11x representing Canada at the XCO World Championships; 12 Canadian Championship medals, First Alternate for Team Canada - 2016 Rio Olympic Games

What is your biggest non-cycling achievement?

Completing my university degree while training as a full-time elite athlete; baking 8 different types of holiday cookies and treats for my family this past Christmas. ;-)

What is your goal for 2019?

Consistently crack the top-20 at World Cups and achieve a PB at World Championships, which happen in Canada this year! Medal at Canadian Championships.

Do you have another job outside of racing?

I'm a professional writer.

What do you love about cycling?

I love the multifaceted nature of cycling, especially mountain biking. It helps me maintain my strong connection with nature and it challenges me physically, mentally and technically. It's a vehicle for discovering new places that few people get to experience. It's a very internal sport in that I'm my biggest competition, but it's also incredibly social, and I've made so many amazing friends and met all sorts of wonderful people through cycling. If I'm having a bad day, all I need to do is get on my bike and everything feels right again. Cycling is my world and it has helped me find the place I truly feel I belong.

Why do you love riding for Liv?

I love riding for Liv, because it's a brand that helps empower all women to ride bikes. I can't think of anything that makes me happier than seeing a girl or woman grinning from ear-to-ear because she just successfully rode something that really scared her -- whether she's a novice or a pro, roadie or mountain biker. It's a gratifying feeling we can all relate to and it's Liv's inclusivity that makes the brand's impact so powerful.

What is your favorite place to travel?

This is hard to answer, because there are so many places I haven't experienced yet! Every place I've been has had its unique charms. I was recently blown away by the beauty of Australia's east coast, the warmth and generosity of its people, and the deliciousness of its cuisine. Basically landscape, people and food are major criteria... and trails, of course!

What is your favorite food?

Pizza and chocolate.

Who is (are) your favorite riding partner(s)?

My fiancé, Ryan, and my best training buddy, Catharine. But there is a long list of awesome people who are very close runners-up!

"When I'm not riding my bike, I'm ______!"

drinking coffee and thinking about riding my bike!

What are the top 3 things on your bucket list?

Represent Canada at the Olympics

Make a long-term financially sustainable career around my passion for cycling

Spend several months riding in mountain biking hot spots around the world with Ryan

Who taught you how to ride a bike/ got you into the sport of cycling?

I have a memory of my Dad taking my training wheels off and letting go of my bike as I wobbled down a hill on our street. Eventually, I fell and cut open my forehead (no bike helmets in those days!). I'm not sure how old I was, but obviously I got up and tried again. It's kind of the way I learned everything -- by jumping in head-first and figuring it out. I think this approach has helped me go as far as I have with sport, because I don't think too much about how I'm going to do something -- I just do it. It taught me to be spontaneous and go for what I really want, even if I don't have enough money or it doesn't make sense from an outsider's perspective. If something is important to you, you make it happen, no excuses. I don't want to have any regrets.

Have you taught anyone how to ride a bike or introduced someone to the sport?

have had lots of opportunities to share my sport with others and it's such a rewarding feeling. When I was in high school, I volunteered with a women's only mountain biking program that my Mom had joined. It was fun to share the sport with her and watch her learn. One of my first jobs was teaching kid's biking camps at the local rec centre, which I did for several years. More recently, I've done some coaching and I'm also involved with a mentorship and bursary program in my province called Ride Like a Girl, where I'm teamed up with a young racer. It's the shared sense of accomplishment I really enjoy when someone I've helped in the sport achieves success. Staying close to my roots reminds me of why I originally got into the sport and how important the fundamentals are, even at the highest level.

How do you plan to pass on your love of cycling in 2019 and beyond?

In 2019, I'm going to continuing my mentorship role with Ride Like a Girl. I also strive to have a similar role on the national team, as I'm finding I'm one of the most experienced riders on the squad these days. I've realized my role has changed over the years, and I want to make sure I can share my skills and experience with the younger riders. It would be a shame to waste 20+ years of knowledge by keeping it to myself.

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